Sunday, December 28, 2008

A chapter opened and a chapter closed

Here is the acrylic painting wedding gift I was working on for a couple of weeks before Christmas. This is the beautiful young woman my son married yesterday. We have just returned from their wedding in Fredericton, a happy bright respite from the grey of winter, to telephone news of the passing of my husband Jim's father. Kind of a roller coaster couple of days from top of the loop to a sudden grounding. Jim is good at finding blessings in all situations and points out that both of his parents got to spend their entire lives in dignity in their own home. His mom died in late november in her dining room rocking chair.
Its an odd thing to be juggling two sets of emotions from each end of the happy/sad spectrum at the same time. Like holding two books, one open at page one and one with the back cover closing....
Jim, Mom & Pops Walsh , family home in PA. Watercolor 2001.

3 comments:

Undaunted said...

Congratulations to your son, and deepest sympathy to the whole family. What a strange mixture of emotions you must be feeling.

Your paintings are beautiful, as ever.

Free Rein Art Studio said...

actOh kathi,
Your portrait is stunning. Really beautiful and what a wonderful gift! I also love the house watercolor.... so sorry for your loss. You put to words so well the mixed emotions in beginnings and the endings of life.

Gwen Buchanan said...

My sympathy to Jim and you of course... on the passing of his parents...very sad...
Glad the wedding was a success and I wish them all the world can offer...

... your paintings are wonderful... beautiful job.. memories held in a moment